“I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all... like an opera.”William Butler Yeats
St. Mary's
Scottie and Buie were up for an early morning run along the Thames, while Tee got a few extra snoozes. Then it was off to see “the city of dreaming spires.”
We wandered through the grounds of Christ Church and Merton College, snooping in wherever we could. Saw several sites where “The Golden Compass” was filmed; the neatest was the site of the blimp scene at All Souls’ College.
We wandered through the grounds of Christ Church and Merton College, snooping in wherever we could. Saw several sites where “The Golden Compass” was filmed; the neatest was the site of the blimp scene at All Souls’ College.
We also met Simpkins, the college cat of Hertford College!
Simpkins the Fifth
We climbed the St. Mary’s Church tower…which dates to the 14th century. Definitely our cardio 
exercise of the day! At the top we were greeted with beautiful views of the Oxford as well as a gargoyle or two.
Gorgolye at St. Mary's...Buie and Scottie looking out to Oxford.
We stopped for pictures at the Oxford Union, where Uncle Donald debated Winston Churchill back in the early ‘
30s. As Uncle Donald tells the story, Churchill had the topic of debate changed just before
they began, putting Donald at a great disadvantage. Afterwards attendants would leave the hall, either through the yea or nay door, thus casting their vote for the debate. Churchill invited Donald to join him at his favorite pub and ushered Donald through the door that cast his vote for Churchill.
30s. As Uncle Donald tells the story, Churchill had the topic of debate changed just before
they began, putting Donald at a great disadvantage. Afterwards attendants would leave the hall, either through the yea or nay door, thus casting their vote for the debate. Churchill invited Donald to join him at his favorite pub and ushered Donald through the door that cast his vote for Churchill. Lunch was at the 
Turf, the oldest tavern in Oxford.
Turf, the oldest tavern in Oxford.Bill Clinton, Thomas Hardy, C. S. Lewis, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Ben Kingsley and Elizabeth Taylor are among the famous who have dined and raised a pint at Turf Tavern!
We ended the day by attedning a lecture on Henry VIII, the kick-off event of the Oxford Literary Festival.
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